We just finished two weeks of watching athletes who fought to be the best. Now March Madness gives us another example.
Tina Charles recently became UConn’s career leader in scoring and rebounds and stands as quite possibly the best player in the country entering the tournament season.
“She told me when she came to Connecticut, that she wanted to be the best player in the country, and I would feel bad if she left and that hadn’t happened,” said UConn Coach Geno Auriemma.
It hasn’t. Charles and Auriemma have worked hard to help her reach that goal. And their example — a coach and athlete working together to accomplish the extraordinary — can help lead others to greatness.
For instance, how many players set goals? How many players share these goals with the coach? How many coaches encourage their players to form and then express their goals?
“In absence of clearly defined goals, we become strangely loyal to performing daily acts of trivia,” according to an anonymous author.
You can bet that there was very little trivia going on in the UConn gym. Auriemma took Charles at her word that she wanted to be the best, and he pushed her. By definition, becoming the best means being uncomfortable a lot of the time. You can never decide that you have arrived.
Of course, Charles’ stature will mean little unless UConn finishes the season the way it wants to, namely, with another national championship. Remember, as other stories unfold — spring training, the NHL and NBA playoffs, the endless steroid saga, this time with a human growth hormone advocate named Dr. Anthony Galea — UConn’s winning streak continues. It now stands at 69.
This weekend the Huskies can tie the national record of 70. If Charles is indeed the best player in the country, this is the time to show it.